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European Council: June 2006

My Lords, I say to my noble friend that bland is sometimes good—certainly, from my point of view. On the issue of a new set of rules, clearly we will need institutions that work better as the European Union expands. We are committed to working with European Union partners on that reform process. It is too early to say at this point what reform is needed, and it is far too early to speculate on the outcome of that work and whether there might need to be a referendum. My right honourable friend Jack Straw, in his previous role, in March 2006 said:"““I am not going to anticipate a rather abstract possibility. I certainly agree that a referendum in respect of this constitution was appropriate””.—[Official Report, Commons, 27/3/06; col. 564.]" We have to see how things develop.